One of the 5 senses is smell. In fact, we don’t give smells and scents enough credit. Very often a scent is associated with a memory, sometimes you might not even be able to place the memory. This happens to me more often than I would have liked, as the fact that I cannot place the memory is frankly irritating, or the memory itself saddens me, as it reminds me of something that has already passed but is also reminiscent of something dear to me (we don’t usually associate smells with negative memories). Smells are an incredibly overlooked, nevertheless massive part of our lives, it does not have to be a memory, or can even be a season, just imagine the smell of cinnamon and pumpkin spice, or the smell of a pine tree – these immediately remind us of Christmas, and give us a warm fuzzy feeling inside, and of course a sense of longing for that holiday season. Similarly, any powerful stink can have a great effect on the way we feel to the point that it can cause us to cringe just at the thought of it and even feel revolting.

  Scents are at times even more important than appearance. A man does not need to be good looking to be attractive as long as he smells right, he can capture the attention of those around him and seem appealing – this is a trick that scents play on our brain. There is a study that scents, and emotions are intertwined. To make it easier for our male readers to be more alluring, here is Lifestylepop’s selection of top 5 men’s fragrances.

Storie Veneziane Blue Cobalto I by Valmont.

 A gold shimmery bottle in a ‘mykonos’ blue leather case with the brands trademark face sketched in metallic gold on the front. When I smelled this perfume, I thought to myself; “oh yes”, now this is something I want to smell on mans body. The scent is sweet but masculine with a slight glimpse of spice to it. this fragrance reminds me of a pastry. In fact, the smell as I write this review is so inviting, during the tasting on LifestylepopTV I gave this perfume a 3/5 mark. Despite the just above medium rating I gave it during the tasting it has made it on to the top 5 list, go ahead and give it a try if you are willing to spare €290 (euros) on the 50ml bottle. It also comes in 100ml bottle for €490 (euros). It is deliciously worth it, whether it is a gift for you man, or the man in question wishes to purchase it for himself.

Tom Ford Arabian Wood Eau De Parfum.

 Tom Ford is known for its distinctive and concentrated scents, but this is a particularly intense smell that is not for the faint hearted. On the contrary to its Valmont counterpart, the ARABIAN WOOD, spells exactly that. Strong, masculine and dark are what comes to mind – reminiscent of its name. A forceful, yet passionate scent of strength and power in all its glory. By far not a perfume for every man, but neither is a Tom Ford suit.

ARMANI code, Eau de Toilette Pour Homme.

A product that has its place on the market, especially at €72 (euros), a little citrusy and a little spicy, this fragrance leaves a fresh after shave kind of scent. A man wearing this perfume smells fresh and clean. The not so overpowering smell is a perfect option for the working man who does not want to attract immediate attention, but once you feel the aroma you know that this guy is taken care of and groomed. It is the perfect option for the daily go-to scent for any man, but is especially complementary for doctors, lawyers, therapists and other ‘client based’ working men.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau De Parfum.

 Now this… this is without a question a scent any woman adores. In fact, often even for themselves. This perfume smells… there is no other word for it… sexy. Smelling this aroma on a man will make one’s knees weak, that I can promise you gents. This is that masculine femininity at its peak – it isn’t the kind of brute masculinity a male athlete represents, which is likely why the fragrance is deemed unisex. But it reminds me of a Calvin Klein model in unbuttoned jeans, with a strong jaw line and perfect six pack. And while you may not look like that, that is definitely the image you will bestow on whoever comes close enough to taste it. Totally worth the €240 (euros) if you ask me.

Opulent Shaik Sapphire No77

  I would say, save best for last but Tobacco Vanille stands on equal ground for my taste. However… Designer Shaik is something else altogether. Only producing a handful of fragrances, this is likely one of the most popular perfume brands amongst the bourgeoisie. The bottles in question are so grand the company offers a refill option. The beautifully designed bottle with a blue stone atop reflective of the brands sapphire collection and exceedingly difficult to acquire perfumes sell for around €220 (euros) a pop. It is not a stretch from the above-mentioned options but finding Designer Shaik fragrances is the difficult bit, they are in limited availability and very few stores around the world stock them. But the exquisite and luscious aroma will be turning heads at every step, and it is without question worth the trouble.